how to make chicken soup with a chicken carcass

3 min read 15-01-2025

how to make chicken soup with a chicken carcass

Making chicken soup from a leftover chicken carcass is a fantastic way to minimize food waste and create a deeply flavorful, comforting broth. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process, ensuring you achieve a rich and delicious soup perfect for chilly evenings or when you're feeling under the weather.

Why Use a Carcass?

Using a roasted or boiled chicken carcass is key to achieving a truly flavorful chicken soup. The bones contain collagen and marrow, which break down during simmering to create a rich, gelatinous broth. This adds depth and body that you simply can't achieve with just chicken broth from a carton. Plus, it's a sustainable way to use every part of the chicken!

Ingredients You'll Need:

Chicken Carcass: One whole roasted or boiled chicken carcass (remove as much meat as possible beforehand).
Water: About 8-10 cups of cold water (enough to cover the carcass).
Aromatics:
- 1 large onion, quartered
- 2 carrots, roughly chopped
- 2 celery stalks, roughly chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed
- Fresh herbs (optional): 2 sprigs parsley, 1 sprig thyme, 1 bay leaf
Salt and Pepper: To taste.
Additional Vegetables & Protein (Optional): Consider adding diced potatoes, noodles, rice, or shredded cooked chicken for a heartier soup.

Equipment:

Large stockpot or Dutch oven
Colander or fine-mesh sieve
Large spoon or ladle

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Prepare the Carcass:

Remove any remaining large pieces of meat from the carcass. You can shred this meat and add it back into the soup later. Break the carcass into smaller pieces if it's very large to help it release flavor more easily.

2. Build the Broth:

Place the chicken carcass in the stockpot. Add the cold water, ensuring the carcass is fully submerged. Add the onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and any fresh herbs.

3. Simmer:

Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for at least 2-3 hours, or up to 4-6 hours for a richer flavor. The longer it simmers, the more gelatinous and flavorful the broth will become. Skim off any foam or impurities that rise to the surface during simmering. This will improve the clarity of your soup.

4. Strain the Broth:

Once simmered, carefully remove the stockpot from the heat. Strain the broth through a colander lined with cheesecloth or a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl or clean stockpot. Discard the solids.

5. Season and Add Vegetables/Protein (Optional):

Return the strained broth to the pot. Season generously with salt and pepper to taste. If desired, add any additional vegetables (potatoes, noodles, rice) or shredded chicken. Simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 15-20 minutes.

6. Serve:

Ladle the soup into bowls and enjoy!

Tips for the Best Chicken Soup:

Roast the Carcass First: Roasting the chicken before making the soup adds a deeper, richer flavor.
Don't Boil: A gentle simmer is crucial. Bubbling too vigorously can make the broth cloudy.
Experiment with Aromatics: Feel free to add other vegetables, herbs, or spices to customize your soup to your liking. Consider adding a pinch of dried thyme or rosemary for an earthy note.
Make it Ahead: Chicken soup tastes even better the next day! Make a large batch and store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Q: Can I use a store-bought roasted chicken?

A: Absolutely! Just follow the same instructions, removing as much meat as possible before adding it to the pot.

Q: How can I make my soup thicker?

A: Simmer the broth for a longer period to allow more collagen to release from the bones. You can also add a cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp cold water) at the end of cooking to thicken the soup.

Q: Can I freeze chicken soup made from a carcass?

A: Yes, this soup freezes beautifully. Allow it to cool completely before storing it in airtight containers in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Making chicken soup from a carcass is a rewarding experience, resulting in a flavorful and nourishing soup. Try this recipe and enjoy the delicious results!